Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Leader of the House – in the House of Commons at 9:30 am on 28 February 2013.
Tom Brake
The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
9:30,
28 February 2013
Whether to change the Standing Orders would, of course, be a matter for the House, but I point out to the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend
Mr Knight and his predecessor have both been successful in securing private Members’ Bills while in Opposition. Indeed, in the previous Session four private Members’ Bills made it to the statute book, and they were not hand-out Bills, and in this Session three private Members’ Bills have been secured in legislation, and we expect a further three to do so.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
